Page 16 of Dirty Rumors

If the Wolfes and the Dirtys moved here together, does that mean they came from the same place? Maybe they were related?

An hour later, I take a break from staring at the screen. My phone’s still on silent, but I notice that at some point I’ve received a text.

Carson: I’m not sure where we stand on Official Dates. But whether you’d like to call it a date or a hangout, I would love to make you dinner tomorrow night.

That text arrived half an hour ago. Even as I’m reading it, another one pings.

Carson: I’m thinking barbecue? Burgers and grilled corn. Super casual hangout. I just want to see you.

Carson: And, obviously, try to impress you with my incredible burger making skills.

The little details touch me. He didn’t ask to see me tonight…although I would really love to…but chose tomorrow night to insert a bit of space into what feels like a breakneck whirlwind relationship.

“Your work must be going well.”

My head jerks up to return the smile of Mrs. Honeywell, the librarian. “Yes. I think everything’s coming together.”

“Perfect. That’s what I like to hear.” She walks away to shelve a couple of books, then returns to her mug of tea at the front counter.

Something hits me with all the force of a winter gale.

If Carson and I became a real couple, I’d move here. Live here. The valley would be my home, and this would be my library, and Corina’s would be my coffee shop. Forever.

I need to decide fast before I lead him on too much. Even worse… Before I break my own rules and possibly break my own heart before I’ve made any logical decisions at all.

10

CARSON

Go figure. A week ago, I would never have thought I’d be shopping for groceries with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. A woman who makes me laugh, asks me challenging questions, and makes my heart do triple backflips every time she gives me that sweet, saucy smile.

I am smitten. I always thought that was an old-fashioned word and kind of ridiculous. But there it is.

And here we are.

“All we need now is buns,” Nikki says, pushing the cart away from me. It’s adorable that she insisted on ‘driving’ around the store.

I walk past her, casually grabbing her ass as I mutter, “I’m partial to these ones, myself.”

She blushes enroute to the bakery section, where I grab some sesame-topped hamburger buns, then we head for the checkout.

If I can convince her to move here and live with me, we’ll be doing this every week. Every daily domestic chore will be amazing, because I’ll have her at my side. Or if it’s my turn to dothe shopping solo, I’ll be thinking of little treats to get her as a surprise.

It’s probably wrong that my mind is already focusing so hard on keeping her here. It makes me feel like I’m stealing her away from her real life. That’s not…I don’t know…honorable, maybe? But it just feels so damned right.

We drive back to my place, where I grill the burgers while Nikki takes care of the onion slices, lettuce, and condiments. We work well together, and dinner is accompanied by a lively discussion of town, gossip, life on the mountain, and the fascinating array of jobs that she wants to look into come fall. Thankfully, all of them can be done on a laptop from anywhere in the world. Thank God. I’d never want to limit her job options.

“Do you like this house?” I ask casually as we load the dishwasher.

“I do.” She looks around at the large kitchen with its stainless-steel appliances. “It’s comfortable. A good mix of luxury and coziness, you know?”

“Good. But I need to point out that if – you know, somewhere down the road – you decided to move in with me, we could pick another house. Or add onto this one. Or otherwise change it up. I’m not particular about these things.”

Nikki turns to me with wide eyes. “Don’t you think it’s like a trillion years too early to be thinking like that?”

“Oh, at least a trillion. I just want to plant the seed. I need to be within a half hour drive of the shop, but apart from that I’m flexible. Anything you like.”

“But isn’t it incredibly expensive to buy a new house and transfer the mortgage and all that? Not to mention all the moving costs?”

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